Free speech updates

The First Amendment still exists in eastern North Carolina…for now. The following reports come from WCTI-12.

Phipps' Gallows

Last week, District Attorney Dewey Hudson announced that Lacy Phipps could not be charged with anything for his display of local and state justice officials hanging in effigy in Duplin County.

Hudson was one of those represented in the gallows along with former governor and state attorney general Mike Easley, plus a local judge and sheriff among others. “What Mr. Phipps has done, although distasteful, it is protected by the 1st Amendment,” Hudson told reporters.

Hanging from the gallows

By William R. Toler

A Duplin County man is being investigated for a creative political statement.

Lacy Phipps, an elderly Faison man, has local, state and federal authorities up in arms for building a gallows setup featuring officials associated with the justice department.

Hanging from the gallows are life-sized mannequins representing District Attorney Dewey Hudson, Sheriff Blake Wallace and former Attorney General (and governor) Mike Easley along with judges, according to the Sampson Independent.

Phipps created the display because he recieved no justice for the death of his son in 1995.